Author: rwindle8

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Hopscotch: Coding App for Students

coding for kids by Hopscotch Technologies

Subject:   Digital Technologies

Year Level: 4 +

Strand: Digital Technologies processes and production skills

 Sub Strand: Specifications, algorithms and implementation

 4.6 Design and implement simple visual programs with user input and branching

 6.7 Design and implement digital solutions using visual programs with user input, branching and iteration

Link to Resource: Download Hopscotch form iTunes for your iPad

https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/hopscotch-coding-made-easy!/id617098629?mt=8

 Description: Hopscotch is coding for kids- made easy! Hopscotch allows students to create their own video game or story on an iPad. They cannot only choose their own characters but also program them to do exactly what they want. It may be breaking into a dance, flying through outer space or jumping up a building- the sky is the limit. It is a great opportunity for students to take control of their learning. Students also love the idea that they are in control and can actually program a computer to do something instead of letting the device tell them. When students have finished their programming they can instantly publish their game to the Hopscotch community, ready for others to play. Through this app students also learn computer science fundamentals like abstraction, variables, conditionals, loops, and more—while making stuff that they actually want to play. It is a fantastic app for young and old.

Cross Curricular Priorities and General Capabilities: Literacy; Numeracy; Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability; Critical and Creative Thinking; Personal and Social Capability; Ethical Understanding; Intercultural Understanding;photo_2

Links to other learning areas: Mathematics, Science, English, The Arts

Suggested Classroom Activity for Resource:

It is important to give students time to explore the application before asking them to complete a task. Let them navigate their way through the app, play games created by others members and wrap their head around it. It may be helpful to show students the tutorials made by Hopscotch Technologies in order to get them started and thinking about coding and programming.

I would begin with asking students to complete a number of simple actions/movements etc. with their selected character to allow them to begin to understand the control they have as the programmer. When you feel students are confident and skilled enough then I would recommend allowing them to create their own game that includes a few specific requirements set by the teacher. Students can then publish their games, explain them to the class and let their classmates play a game they have created all by themselves!

Watch this short video, by teacher Paul Hamilton to see how simple coding can be!

 

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From Paddock to Plate Schools Program

Subject:   Design and Technologies  images (1)

Year Level: 3-4 (can be used across all year levels)

Strand: Design and Technologies knowledge and understanding

Sub Strand: Food and Fibre Production

4.3 Recognise the contribution food and fibre production and food technologies make to modern and traditional societies

Link to Resource: www.frompaddocktoplate.com.au

Description: Founded by Louise Fitzroy, From Paddock to Plate Schools Program was created to give children the opportunity to make more informed and healthy food choices. In this program students learn about the origins of the food they eat and the importance of supporting those who produce it. The program is an easy-to-use multi-media resource that focuses on a variety of foods, producers and agricultural hubs, each accompanied by corresponding worksheets and follow on activities for your students.

Click on the link below to hear Louise Fitzroy tell us more about the Schools Programs

//soundcloud.com/fitzroyl8b/from-paddock-to-plate-schools

Cross Curricular Priorities and General Capabilities: Literacy; Numeracy; Intercultural Understanding; Ethical Understanding; Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia

Links to other learning areas: Mathematics, Science, English, Health and Physical Education

 Suggested Classroom Activity for Resource:

This resource enables teachers to adapt the program to cater for differing year levels and abilities. A suggested activity could be focusing on one product per week of the eight part series (honey; eggs; wheat; cherries; fish; vegetables; milk; grass-fed beef). For example, the students watch the video about honey; learn about where it comes from and why it is important. After a class discussion they can complete the corresponding activities from the Paddock to Plate program. An extension of this would be using the featured product to make food for students to sell to the rest of the school. At the end of each week the students could create a stall to sell their produce and also provide information about the process it went through to become said product. Students can be broken into groups; taking turns each week to be in charge of a certain product. This resource allows for many cross-curricular links including Mathematics as the students learn to buy and sell with real money.

Watch the YouTube Video below:

 A great resource to get adults and children thinking about the produce they buy at the supermarket and how it got there; an insight into the journey of from paddock to plate.